The Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism has put up a report of the 7th workshop on the ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism.

From the Working Group website, a short explanation of what the Workshop is about.

The Workshop is the seventh in a series that is annually organized by the Working Group. Co-organized by the ministry of foreign affairs and the national human rights institution (if any) of a host ASEAN member-state, it has become a platform for stakeholders to dialogue on the establishment of a regional human rights mechanism.

Scroll down to the end of that webpage for the summary of proceedings.

Our partner, Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) will be holding a free workshop on 29th June 2008, 9am till 6pm. This is a workshop as part of their public education programme.
Download the workshop details from their website HERE.

The Asean Charter, which was signed by all 10 Asean countries last November, does not come into effect until all 10 member countries have ratified it.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is appealing to the Philippine Congress to ratify the Charter. She also said, Asean “must accept its responsibility to advance the cause of economic and social justice within its membership.”

Some congressmen have argued that the Philippines should hold back ratification until the Myanmar government demonstrates concrete steps to restore democracy.

Xinhua
13 June 2008

Philippine president appeals for passage of ASEAN Charter

MANILA, June 13 (Xinhua) — Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is appealing for the passage of ASEAN Charter for further economic integration within the Association of South East Asian Nations, the Philippine government said in a statement on Friday. Read the rest of this entry »

This is the Straits Times’ concluding report on the 7th Workshop, held June 12 – 13, 2008 in Singapore.

Straits Times
14 June 2008

ASEAN HUMAN RIGHTS BODYProgress made, but more work lies ahead

Workshop participants agree broad consultation needed, but no consensus reached on powers proposed body should have
By Kor Kian Beng

ASEAN’S goal of setting up a human rights body is shaping up well, but human rights experts and government officials who ended a meeting here were under no illusions about the mountain of work that lies ahead.

The 60 or so participants who met at a two-day workshop agreed, among other things, that the high-level panel which will draw up terms of reference for the human rights commission must consult broadly with government and civil society groups alike. Read the rest of this entry »

This is Xinhua’s second news report on the 7th Workshop held in Singapore, 12 – 13 June 2008.

Xinhua
13 June 2008

Experts: All members should be included in ASEAN human rights body

SINGAPORE, June 13 (Xinhua) — Most participants from the two-day workshop of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said here on Friday that all the 10-members, including Myanmar, should be included in a future human rights body for the regional organization. Read the rest of this entry »

In this report, Today summarises the key points made by Prof Tommy Koh, Transport Minister Raymond Lim and Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan, at the 7th Workshop held on June 12-13, 2008 in Singapore.

Today
13 June 2008

Asean’s human rights divide

Nazry Bahrawi

IT IS no secret the 10 members of the A:ssociation of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) aredivided over the issue of human rights. But it was only yesterday that a clearer picture of the rift emerged, thanks to a “frank” account given by veteran diplomat Professor Tommy Koh.

According to him, Asean is divided into two camps: One which champions human rights and the other, not as enthusiastic about it. Read the rest of this entry »

Singapore Transport Minister Raymond Lim once again highlighted a position that Singapore tends advance – “the interpretation of most rights are still essentially contested concepts” – in his keynote address to the 7th workshop.

Straits Times
13 June 2008

Raymond Lim: Three criteria must be met

Mr Raymond Lim, Second Foreign Affairs Minister, listed three broad criteria for a new Asean human rights body when he delivered the keynote address at a workshop to discuss the human rights mechanism that is being set up under the Asean Charter: Read the rest of this entry »